Flushing and cleaning sewers



(No Model.) 2` Sheets-Sheet 1.;

P. BURKE. Flushing and Cleaning Sewers.

No.y 240,655. Patented April 26, 18.81.

N. PETER/S, PHOTD-LITHDGRAPHER. WASNINGTON, DIC.

- (N0 Model.) -2 Sheets-Sheet 2. P.A BURKE. "I-`111s-hin;}and{OleamfngfSewersl Patented Awww-26,1881.

@QZW- l `UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

PETER BURKE, oE VIRGINIA CITY, NEvAnA. i

FLUSHING AND CLEANING SEWERS.v

SPECIFICATION forming' part Of Letters Patent No. 240,655, dated April 26, 1881.

Application filed Aug-ust 26, IBSO. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER BURKE, of Virginia City, county of Storey, and State ot' N evada,have invented an Improvem entin Flushing and Cleaning Sewers; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a novel means for flushing and cleaning sewers; and it consists in the employment of a series of water-pipes which are suitably supported or hung'from the apex of the sewer, and are provided with a series of nozzles standing at such an incline that they will discharge a jet of water into the deposit at the bottom of the sewer angularly and in the direction of the flow, so as to loosen up the deposit and cause it to move on through the sewer. These nozzles and supplemental pipe are connected in sections with a main water-pipe exterior to the sewer, and have cocks near the curb, so that Water may be turned into any one or more sections at one time, and thus iiush that part of the sewer.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a view of a section of a sewer, showing the water-mains, connecting-pipes,

and cocks. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view.

A is a section of a sewer of any suitable construction.

B is a pipe or pipes which extend through the sewer lengthwise at or near its crown.

. Thepipe or pipes are preferably made in lengths, each of which has its independent connection with the water-main in the street, as will be more fully described hereinafter. From the lower part of these pipes short pipes or nozzles C project, and have their discharge ends bent or adjusted so that the discharge of water from them will be in the direction of the flow in the sewer, striking it at an angle which may be determined by the character of the deposit.

The pipes or sections B each have a pipe, D, connecting it with the main E, which usu ally lies in the street, near the sewer. The

pipes D are bent so that they leave the main and approach the curb, where a cock, F, is fixed in each to allow thewater to be easily turned on or off when desired.

During the ordinary flow of a sewer a continual deposit of sediment takes place, and

Vthis becomes packed so vsolidly that no ordinary iiow of water will remove it. For this reason I therefore introduce these short sec-` tions of pipe B, with their inclined nozzles and connections with the main, so that I am enabled to discharge jets of water forcibly into the mass at the bottom of the sewer, so as to plow and dig it up by hydraulic force, at the same time carrying it along in the direction of the flow.

By employing short sections, into which the water is turned successively, I am enabled to utilize the full force of the head in the main throughout a few nozzles at one time, and to thus successively clear the sewer of sediment and wash out the loosened mass. If the attempt be made to employ a single long pipe, the force would soon be lost in the nozzles, and they would fail to do any efficient work; but by employing the short sections the whole force due to the pressure in the main may be concentrated successively in a few nozzles, and the sediment thoroughly loosened up and carried out. By thus carrying out the deposit the stagnant pools formed by little sand-bars in the sewer will be carried out, and a great cause for the formation of sewer-gas will be obviated.

If it be desired to wash down the sides of the sewer, a pipe, G, perforated with holes, whichwill allow the water to be thrown out in a spray, may be employed with good results.

As a considerable proportion of the gas generated in sewers is soluble in water, my invention will have mthe effect to take up the gas and to reduce the pressure in the sewer, thus preventing, in a great measure, the evil effects caused by this pressure and the escape of the gas into buildings which are connected with the sewer. The stationary or a rotary spray will also tend to prevent the return of gases into portions already cleansed.

Havin g thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters In Witness whereof I havehereuuto set my Patent, ishand.

A pipe, B provided with a series of jets connected With the street Water-main and eon- PETER BURKE' 5 trolled by a. cock, F, in combination with and Witnesses:

inserted and supported-Within a sewer-main, GEO. H. STRONG, A,Dubstantia1ly as and for the purpose de- S. H. NOURSE. scri ed. I Y 

